Startup Air Taxi ImagineAir More Than Optimistic

03/06/2009 AVWeb.com (URL)

Startup Air Taxi ImagineAir More Than Optimistic

March 6, 2009
By Glenn Pew, Contributing Editor, Video Editor

Startup air taxi ImagineAir flew its first operations in 2007 and in spite
of the economic downturn in 2008 doubled its business, flying more than 600
routes between more than 200 airports in the Southeast. Founded in 2005 and
operating five Cirrus SR22 GTS aircraft with 15 employees, the Atlanta-based
company saw 117 percent more flights year over year from 2007 to 2008.
Company president Ben Hamilton, 25, told the Atlanta Business Chronicle
ImagineAir will follow that initial success by doubling its fleet in 2009,
spacing planes throughout the Southeast and expanding service to Texas by
2010. The company reportedly lists its 2008 revenue at about $800,000 but
has a goal to operate 50 aircraft and employ 100 pilots within five years.
If the company survives to enjoy that success, it may be due to a business
model that makes its cost and convenience perhaps unexpectedly well-suited
for the times.

The entire article may be viewed at
http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/imagineair_air_taxi_atlanta_cirrus_sr22
_199924-1.html

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